Class actions.

Class actions allow groups of people to bring a single proceeding against a defendant when their circumstances are 'same, similar or related'.

At present, class actions can be brought in the Supreme Courts of Victoria and New South Wales, and the Federal Court of Australia; other jurisdictions do not yet have class action machinery in their relevant legislation and court rules.

Class actions have significant advantages over test cases including in terms of bringing finality and improving access to justice, but many strategic and tactical complications can arise.